Son of LMPD chief charged with domestic violence

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The 30-year-old son of the chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department appeared before a judge Tuesday morning after his arrest the day before on domestic violence charges. Robert C. White III was arrested at 5:40 p.m. Monday at his parents' home in Louisville.

A Domestic Violence Petition obtained by WAVE 3 states White had picked up his wife from work and before he got there, she said White sent her a text saying "he was gonna do her the way her father did her mother."

According to a police report, White and his wife were in a car and got into an argument about divorce in the 13000 block of Aiken Road and he slapped his wife in the face with the back of his hand.

While on the road, the victim said White hit a construction barrel on purpose and then slapped her face and hit her numerous times and said, "he was gonna get two days."

White's wife tried to get out of the car, but White grabbed a hold of her arm and wouldn't let her out of the car. He then threatened to kill his wife and her family. The victim managed to escape by jumping out of the moving car. Metro Police say bystanders witnessed the victim jumping from the car and called for help.

LMPD said they quickly realized that White was the son of the LMPD Chief Robert White and that he was at his parents home on Isleworth Drive.

"His father was out of town and his mother was there," said Susan Ely of the Jefferson County Attorney's Office. "He proceeded to drink large amounts of alcohol he then stated his life was over and he was going to kill himself. He went to look for a gun in the house. The gun had been moved. Police made it to the home before tragedy happened."

"As any parent the chief and his wife are extremely disappointed in their son's behavior," said Sgt. Robert Biven, a LMPD spokesperson. "This is a terrible thing for any parent to go through but, he does feel very adamant the appropriate charges were placed last night."

White is charged with assault in the 2nd degree, terroristic threatening in the 3rd degree, unlawful imprisonment in the 1st degree and wanton endangerment in the 1st degree. The judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

According to Ely, White is suicidal and homicidal. He is being held on a $50,000 full cash bond is housed separately at Louisville Metro Corrections because of his relation to the police chief and the extensive media coverage surrounding his arrest. White has been ordered to not have any contact with his wife.